Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission meeting. March 5, 2015
An annual report released today outlines how revenue generated by Iowa’s casinos was distributed to charities and community projects across the state.
Iowa Gaming Association president and CEO Wes Ehrecke discussed the report this morning at a meeting of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission in Altoona. “Well over $57 million of grants are reflected in that annual report. Over 2,500 grants were issued,” Ehrecke said.
The 14 counties with casinos generated $46 million for nonprofit organizations in their counties last year, while the 85 counties that do not hold a state-issued gaming license were awarded a total of $8.7 million. “Virtually every Iowan, every citizen in every corner of the state, is being touched in a significant, proactive way by the grants that have been provided,” Ehrecke said.
Just 0.8% of the gaming tax revenue from Iowa’s casinos is distributed to the County Endowment Fund Program.